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Catalonia game confidence boost, says Keshi

January 4, 2013 : Pius Ayinor

coach Stephen Kesh

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has hailed his players for what he described as their brilliant performance against Catalonia. Keshi said he was happy at the display of the national team and is hopeful that the result would serve as a big confidence boost for the team especially the players from the Nigerian Premier League who were experiencing that level of competition for the first time.

“In the next two weeks we should have a stronger and more reliable team to defend our colours come SA 2013,” he said.

The former Eagles captain who fielded largely Nigerian based players in the starting line up said it was deliberate given the level of competition and opposition expected in South Africa. The Catalonians dominated play at the initial stage but the tide soon changed and the match became balanced until the final whistle with both sides creating scoring chances.

He said, “I needed to see that reaction from the players in a game like this and I must commend them because they lived up to expectation. It’s a test and confidence-building game and the boys from back home needed this more.”

Seven players from the Nigerian league started the game which ended 1-1 as compared to the 5-0 humiliation the Eagles suffered in the hands of the same team five years ago. Keshi also hinted that the game had given him a broader view of the entire squad and admitted their performance should play some role in the final selection. The Eagles are also scheduled to play against Cape Verde next week in another international friendly.

“Well not yet done (selection). Some of the players are not here yet, but I could say I have an idea of what my team should look like.

“But that is what we want stiff competition for places. We need these players to understand that nobody has a permanent shirt in this team. You must fight to get a shirt and if that would bring about headache for me as the coach, then I think its good headache,” he told MTNfootball.com.

The Eagles are back to Portugal where their training programme continues until their departure to South Africa for the competition that starts from the 19th to February 10. Nigeria will play against Zambia, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso at the group stage.

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